The objective of the visit by the dignitaries was to oversee progress on Energy projects in the broader Eastern Cape and at the Coega SEZ. The EC has been identified as one of the provinces with linkages in the IPP programme complementing a mix range of projects on renewables, gas and nuclear.

In order to appreciate the scope of investment in the 11 500 hectors Coega SEZ the dignitaries were taken on a tour of Coega followed by a visit to the deep water Port of Ngqura, concluding with a tour of the Dedisa Power Peaking Plant (PPP), a R3,5 billion investment with a capacity of 342MW, which is convertible to a gas driven power plant.

The Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), Athol Trollip, in his address highlighted the importance of institutions like the Coega SEZ in attracting mega investment in the NMB.

He said as the Metro they appreciate the role that has been played by both the National and Provincial Government in investing on infrastructure in the Metro.

“We are ready to work closely with both National and Provincial government so that we can grow our economy as the metro to create jobs for all our citizens.”

Highlighting the value proposition of the Eastern Cape, MEC Sakhumzi Somyo indicated the importance of the province in localising energy projects for the benefit of the local communities.

Arguing that, “indigenous gas that is extracted in this province must first be beneficiated on our shores before any export of the raw resource takes place. We have been alive to this and have been doing extensive work to ensure local economic participation in the gas value chain.”

The Minister of Energy, Mmamoloko Kubayi has recommitted her department to the 1000MW LNG project that was announced to the Coega SEZ last year.

“That project is not off the table because Gas is important to the energy mix of the country.”

“I am passionate about Gas to power because it will help us to transform the sector through creation of black industrialist into the sector, construction of factories and to ensure localisation and job creation.”

She added that they had agreed to source skills from the CDC to assist the department to implement some of the projects that are currently going at a snails pace.

“The CDC is going to be our partner and I am going to pay particular attention to it because it has the capacity to deliver on various components of the Energy Mix.”

The hunt for a gang that stormed a police station in Ngcobo in the early hours of Wednesday morning and killed five police officers as well as an off-duty soldier continued on Thursday with authorities calling on the public for leads that can help in their investigations...